AN/MPQ-53 fire control radar
October 31, 2021
Contents
I. Overview
Second, the functional composition
Third, technical performance
4. Mount platform
5. Development planning
The difference between AN/MPQ-53 and AN/MPQ-65
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > overview</h1>
The AN/MPQ-53 phased array radar performs beam dispatch and time and energy resource allocation through the control of the phase of the array signal, realizes the rapid discovery of key targets and high data rate tracking, and guides the missile to strike at space targets.
The AN/MPQ-53 C-band multifunctional phased array radar system is responsible for searching, detecting, tracking and identifying potential threats, as well as Patriot missile guidance and ECCM functions. The AN/MPQ-53 is remotely controlled via a cable connection from the MSQ-104 Control Station. The radar system is capable of tracking up to 100 targets and can provide missile guidance data for up to 9 missiles, with a range of more than 100 kilometers.
The MPQ-53 radar unit has no moving parts, making it difficult to be jammed. Under the PAC-3 program, the radar unit has been upgraded. The upgraded MPQ-53 radar unit is capable of tracking and striking a large number of targets, while baseline capabilities can be enhanced to better respond to emerging threats such as mobile ballistic missiles, stealth cruise missiles, and aircraft.
Figure 1 Detailed view of an AN/MPQ-53 radar unit
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > functional composition</h1>
Phased array radar mainly controls the phase of the array element signal, and the data processing unit controls the dispatch of the beam and the allocation of time and energy resources according to the execution of the task by the data processing unit for the key target and the monitoring area, so as to achieve the rapid discovery of the key target and the high data rate tracking, and complete the beam scanning of the space target. The main antenna array of the AN/MPQ-53 phased array radar of the United States has a diameter of 2.44m, a total of 5161 radiation arrays, and can perform 32 kinds of antenna pattern conversion, and the conversion time is 100ms. The TVM antenna array has a diameter of 0.5334m and a total of 253 radiated array elements. There are 5 secondary-lobe extinction antenna arrays, and each array has 51 radiation arrays. The friend-or-foe antenna array works in the L-band and has 20 radiation arrays. The radar, which ranges from 3 to 170 kilometers, performs its monitoring, tracking, guidance, and electronic protection measures (EPM) functions in a time-sharing manner, generating motion cycles lasting several milliseconds by using the system's computer. Its radar beams are tailored in terms of power, waveform, and physical size for long, short, horizon and clutter, guidance, and electronic protection measures (EPM) capabilities. The data rate for each function can also be independently selected to provide 54 different modes of operation, for example, remote search can be performed over a longer period of time compared to horizontal search of low-altitude pop-up targets. No function requires any given time interval, so random sequences of radar movements are allowed at any time, greatly increasing the attacker's electronic countermeasure (ECM) problem. The search sector is 90° and the tracking capability is 120°.
Figure 2 AN/MPQ-53 radar
The signal processor of the AN/MPQ-53 phased array radar can store the target signal and the signal of the secondary-lobe blanking channel for pipeline processing when monitoring the target; the secondary-lobe blanking, constant false alarm detection, distance calculation, and time-segmentation technology can be performed during the search to format the weapon control computer; when intercepting the track, the target can be intercepted and transferred to the track with a pulse counter at the specified distance-angle window; in the middle guidance section, The extracted missile coordinate data and status data are sampled and formatted, and then provided to the weapons computer; in the TVM segment, the accumulation and strobe results of the irradiation pulse burst are processed and formatted by the rapid Fourier transform, and then provided to the weapons computer for use.
An/MPQ's command and control vehicle is the combat control center of the entire weapon system, consisting of a weapon control computer, a human/machine interface, and various data and communication terminals. The Combat Control Center controls the entire combat process of the weapon system through two sets of procedures: the first set of procedures puts the system into a state of readiness, and the second set of procedures controls the entire course of the engagement.
The Patriot Radar AN/MPQ-53 belongs to the Missile Control Radar and is a frequency agile multifunction G/H band radar group that performs surveillance, friend or foe identification (IFF), tracking and guidance, and electronic countermeasures (ECM) functions, included in the Patriot Tactical Anti-Aircraft Missile System. The antenna unit has a separate array for target detection and tracking, missile guidance, and friend or foe identification (IFF) functions. The last of these tasks is performed by the AN/TPX-46(V)7 interrogator, using a complementary array adjacent to the main circular search and trace array on the antenna element. Other complementary arrays are used for sidelobe elimination and missile guidance signal reception.
Figure 3 AN/MPQ-53 radar
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > technical performance</h1>
The "Patriot's" missile guidance radar is a kind of LPI radar (low probability intercept radar), so that the signal power emitted is not received by the passive radar receiver of the other side, so as to achieve the purpose of safe work.
An/MPQ-53 radar In order to complete the function of search, tracking and guidance, the technical indicators that need to be considered when designing are:
Bandwidth: 4 ~ 8GHz (or 4 ~ 6GHz );
Agile frequency bandwidth: 640MHz;
Average transmit power: 600kW (57.782dBw);
Transmit antenna gain: 40dB (maximum direction gain of the main beam);
Center operating wavelength: 29.5cm2 (-25.3d BM2);
Emission loss: 2.7dB;
Atmospheric loss: 1dB;
Secondary to main valve gain ratio: -45dB;
PRS and emission waveform mismatch parameters: -13dB;
Detection distance: 160km for general aircraft (its RCS is 1m2).
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > mount platform</h1>
Patriot anti-missile missile system is the United States all-weather, large airspace, multi-channel surface-to-air missile weapon system, used in regional air defense and key ground air defense, can intercept a variety of high-performance aircraft, air-to-ground missiles, tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles and other military targets, on the basis of the Patriot prototype has developed 3 improved types: PAC-I, PAC-II, PAC-III. The system has been deployed in certain areas, seriously affecting the penetration capability of missile weapons systems. The core of the Patriot system is the use of AN/MPQ-53 multi-function phased array radar, which can simultaneously grasp more than 100 targets and guide 8 missiles to attack 3 to 5 targets, and the entire system can be airlifted by C-141 transport aircraft and heavy helicopters, which is suitable for both field air defense and air defense. The weapon system has three major characteristics: one is the use of multi-functional phased array radar, only one radar can complete the search, tracking and guidance of all the functions; the second is the use of TVM guidance system, improve the guidance accuracy and anti-jamming ability, greatly reducing the equipment on the bomb; the third is a high degree of automation, the use of automatic operation and manual operation combined, 1 fire unit only needs 1 commander and 2 operators.
Figure 4 AN/MPQ-53 radar
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > development planning</h1>
The Army is planning to upgrade the Patriot system's radar components, including a new digital processor to replace the one used since the system was introduced. In 2017, the Patriots will acquire a new Active ElectronicAlly Scanned Array (AESA) radar with greater range and sharper recognition capabilities. Measuring 9 ft × 13 ft (2.7 m × 4.0 m), the gallium nitride (GaN)-based primary active electronically scanned array is a bolt-on replacement antenna for the current antenna for major threats; the new rear panel array is a quarter-size of the main array, allowing the system to see the back and sides, providing 360-degree coverage. Maintenance costs for gaN-based active electronically scanned array radars have also been reduced by 50 percent. Instead of illuminating a single emitter through multiple lenses, the Gallium Nitride array uses many smaller emitters, each with its own controls, increasing flexibility and allowing it to work even when some emitters are not working.
In October 2017, the Army announced that Raytheon's Proximity Air Defense Missile Defense System (LTAMDS) radar had been selected as the new radar for the Patriot System. Unlike previous radars, which could only observe part of the sky at a time, primarily to detect ballistic missiles, the Proximity Air Defense Missile Defense System has a 360-degree coverage and can detect low-altitude flight and maneuvering drones and cruise missiles. The design has a large main array flanked by two smaller arrays, with the main panel still focused on high-altitude threats, while the side panel is half the size of the previous radar group and twice as powerful as the previous radar group, capable of detecting from comparable distances. Raytheon received a $383 million contract to build the first six radars that will be operational in 2022.
Figure 5 AN/MPQ-53 radar
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > the difference between AN/MPQ-53 and AN/MPQ-65</h1>
The AN/MPQ-53/65 Radar Cluster is a passive electronically scanned array radar equipped with Friend or Foe Identification (IFF), Electronic Countermeasures (ECCM), and Missile Tracking (TVM) guidance subsystems. The AN/MPQ-53 radar group supports PAC-2 units, while the AN/MPQ-65 radar group supports PAC-2 and PAC-3 units. The main difference between the two radars is the addition of a second traveling-wave tube (TWT), which enables the AN/MPQ−65 radar to enhance search, detection, and tracking capabilities. The radar antenna array consists of more than 5,000 elements that "deflect" the radar beam multiple times per second. The radar antenna array also contains an Identity or Enemy Identification (IFF) interrogator subsystem, a Missile Tracking (TVM) array, and at least one "SideLobe Eliminator" (SLC), a small array designed to reduce interference that may affect the radar. The Patriot's radar is a bit unusual because it's a "detected kill" system, which means that one unit performs all the search, identification, tracking, and engagement functions. This is in contrast to most SAM systems, where multiple different radars are required to perform all the functions required to detect and strike targets.
Figure 6 AN/MPQ-53 radar
Compared to mobile dish antennas, the Patriot plane phased array radar produces a relatively narrow and highly flexible beam. This feature enables radar to detect small, fast targets such as ballistic missiles, or low-radar cross-sectional targets such as stealth aircraft or cruise missiles. The patriot radar's power and agility are also highly resistant to countermeasures, including the use of electronic countermeasures (ECMs), radar jamming, and radar alarm receiver (RWR) equipment. Patriot radar is capable of quickly changing frequencies to resist jamming.
Figure 7 AN/MSQ-104 vehicle of the Dutch Patriot Force
The AN/MSQ-104 Combat Control Station (ECS) is the nerve center of the Patriot Launch Company and costs about $6 million each. The engagement control station consists of a bunker mounted on the M927 5-ton wagon or light medium tactical vehicle (LMTV) van van. The main subcomponents of the engagement control station are the weapons control computer (WCC), the data link terminal (DLT), the ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication array, the routing logic radio interface unit (RLRIU), and the human-machine interface as a system. Combat control stations are air-conditioned, pressurized (to resist chemical/biological attacks) and shielded from electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) or other such electromagnetic interference. The engagement control station also contains multiple SINCGARS radios to facilitate voice communication.
The weapons control computer is the main computer in the Patriot system, which has a 24-bit parallel military computer with fixed-point and floating-point capabilities. It is organized in a multiprocessor configuration and operates at a maximum clock rate of 6 MHz. This computer controls the operator interface, calculates missile interception algorithms, and provides limited troubleshooting. Compared to modern personal computers, its processing power is somewhat limited, although it has been upgraded several times during the service of the Patriots.
The data link terminal connects the engagement control station to the Patriot's launch station. It uses signal radios or fiber-optic cables to transmit encrypted data between the engagement control station and the transmitter. With distributed ledger technology, system operators can remotely place, rotate, or retract launchers, diagnose launchers or missiles, and launch missiles.
The UHF communication array consists of three UHF radio "stacks" and their associated patching and encryption devices. These radios are connected to the antennas of the OE-349 antenna mast group and are used to create an ULTRAF "lens" between the Sister Patriot battery and its associated ICC. This creates a secure real-time data network (called PADIL, patriot data information link) that gives the ICC centralized control of its subordinate emitting batteries.
The routing logical radio interface unit acts as the primary router for all data entering the belligerent control station. Routing logic radio interface units give a firepower company an address on the battalion data network and send/receive data from the entire battalion. It also "translates" data from weapons control computers to data link terminals, facilitating communication with transmitters.
Figure 8 AN/MPQ-53 radar